The Tux in the Backpack

Gadgets and accessories are indeed vital for a Flashpacker. It’s not surprising then to see many articles on the web about what are the must-have Flashpacking accessories.

Flashpacking though is not simply travelling with a huge amount of tech gadgets. I believe a Flashpacker is defined by the travelling style; even if accessories are a big help, the ideal Flashpacker is not the one with the most gadgets in the backpack. At the contrary, Flashpacking is also travelling in a comfortable (read: light) way.

The gadgets you need depends mainly on what is your “basic package” of accessories following you on your travels. For example if you have a big laptop with lot of memory you don’t necessarily need an external hard drive, or if you have an iPod you don’t necessarily need an iPhone too.

Here’s a list of gadgets that, depending on what you bring with you, you might not necessarily need.

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Popularity: 41% [?]

Lately Flashpacking is associated more and more often with Fast Travel, on the run, hopping from one destination to another. This is due to a couple of misconceptions, that we’d like to clarify here before explaining why real Flashpacking is Slow Travel.

Misconception 1. Flashpackers tend to prefer a 2 hours flight to a 19 hours bus ride.
This makes them automatically fast travellers. They don’t want to spend time getting there and probably have somewhere else to go after this destination.

Misconception 2. Some Flashpackers have a job (or had a job).
As a consequence they have to see as much as possible in a month, or whatever long is their holiday from work.

These two misconceptions helped creating the idea of Flashpacking as Fast Travelling with a good amount of money and a load of tech gadgets. Fly in, stay in a nice hotel, take pictures, fly somewhere else tomorrow. All boxes ticked at the end of the trip.

Let’s clear the two misconceptions before moving to Flashpacking as Slow Travel.

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Popularity: 17% [?]

Is Flashpacking wrong?

To start with, the term itself has some kind of negative connotation: Flash, as in ostentation, or acting pretentiously.

Many sources in fact define Flashpacking as Backpacking on a bigger budget; the money being the one making the difference as it allows Flashpackers to afford traveling for a long time, but mainly to afford good quality (if not luxurious) accommodations.

Reading a comment on a Vagabondish article we discovered how some “unconscious” Flashpacker even felt bad in having more money than the average Backpacker and upgrading for a single room instead of a dorm: “My wife and I are flashpackers and we didn’t even know it. We felt a little guilty or even ostracized for having a bigger budget than backpackers, and it’s great to see that we have nothing to be ashamed about and we’re not alone.”

In the news you can find some bad stories of wealthy flashpackers bribing farmers in Australia in order to get holiday Visa extensions.

So is Flashpacking just a richer, sometime more incorrect, version of Backpacking?

Fair Flashpacking

You have both the cash and the ideas to actually help out a bit.

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Popularity: 14% [?]

The same Hostelworld survey that throw so much light on the “new backpackers” that travel in more comfort – helping to create awareness on the Flashpacking phenomenon – also reveals how these new travelers often arrive at the hostel carrying “their modern day gadgets safely stowed in their wheelie suitcase”. You can see the related article here.

Is that the end of the backpack then? And as a consequence we cannot really define backpackers as such anymore? We like to think that the backpack is till quite handy. A lot of course depends on your destinations. A wheelie suitcase won’t be too useful on the destroyed footpaths of Bali, or in any sandy path for all that matters. Mountains and jungle destinations would be more problematic without a backpack.

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Popularity: 22% [?]

One again we bring you the “best of the web” when it comes to Flashpacking. This time regarding tips to Flashpack in extreme conditions.

How about scented travel candles to create a bit of an atmosphere even in places where atmosphere (or decent smell) is the last thing you would find?

Or how about small French style coffee presses and your favorite roast to get the coffee you want even in the most remote place?

Check out the full post! Because once again Flashpack is not about the money or the gadgets, but about the style!

Popularity: 14% [?]